CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After a set of meetings in which two versions of the Senior Citizens Center Board took conflicting actions, with resignations and restarts, the City of Clarksville provided an update on its plans, stating it will move forward with taking over the Ajax Turner Senior Center operations. But several questions are still unanswered.
The City of Clarksville said Monday the Senior Citizens Center at 953 Clark St. is not yet operational, however, the Ajax Turner nonprofit, which had their lease terminated in March, has been allowed a few more days to clear out and vacate the building. “The public is asked to stay tuned for an announcement from the City regarding when the center will be fully renovated, and host to a grand opening celebration.”
But that doesn’t track with what’s been happening with the nonprofit, which has said it won’t fully vacate without a formal eviction notice, and the nonprofit’s board continues to meet in the building.
On July 1, two Ajax Turner Senior Citizen Board members – Lois Greider and Dr. Gregory Fryer – cited a Tennessee statue that allows two members of the board to call and hold a special session meeting, despite the lack of a quorum.
They then voted to remove all four other board members due to “inaction,” among other factors. They also approved a filing an injunction against the city for terminating their lease, as well as reinstating center Executive Director Rita Allsop.
Members voted out hold their own meeting
The four members voted off the board were Chairwoman Beverly Guynn, Otis Sanders, Maureen Potter and Rose Bennett, according to previous reports. Despite the July 1 board action, Guynn, Sanders, Potter and Bennett held their own Senior Citizens Board meeting on July 16.
During that meeting, the four voted to relinquish control of the building to the city, despite the actions taken by Greider and Fryer.
They also voted to allow the nonprofit corporation’s personal property to remain at the facility for 10 days. Kyle Shannon, an attorney for the Senior Board, reminded the members that are supposed to be acting in the nonprofit’s best interests.
The board members then all rendered their resignations.
‘The corporation is demanding the assets be given to us’
Afterward, Clarksville attorney Pete Olson asked several clarifying questions, including whether the four board members’ resignations are final. Guynn said that is correct.
Olson then asked about the assets of the nonprofit corporation. “The checkbooks, the mail, and all other assets that have been removed – where are they?” he asked.
Guynn said they do not have the assets, adding that there is nobody else to operate the nonprofit. Olson pushed back and said the four are no longer speaking on behalf of the board after resigning.
After Olson continued pushing back, Guynn said they would be handing the assets over to the City of Clarksville.
“We demand them right now; the corporation is demanding the assets be given to us,” Olson said. The meeting was adjourned shortly after.
Clarksville Now has reached out to Olson and Shannon for comment. Guynn and the City of Clarksville both declined to comment.
2nd Senior Citizens Board reverses prior actions
Later during the day on July 17, a second Senior Citizens Board meeting was held but this time, it was led by Greider and Fryer. New business during the meeting included the selection of a new chairman, as well as a vice chair and additional board members.
The Senior Citizens Board also voted to reverse the actions from earlier that day of relinquishing the building to the City of Clarksville, according to Allsop and new board chairman Jimmy Parker.
The board voted in the following new members:
- Chairman: Jimmy Parker
- Vice Chair: Jill Crow
- Treasurer: Gilbert Pulley
- Secretary: Cynthia Minnick
- Board member: David Key
Left unresolved is the question of who will have access to 953 Clark St. next week and into the future.
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